Eleanor and Hick: The Love Affair That Shaped a First Lady

In 1932 Eleanor Roosevelt entered the claustrophobic, duty-bound existence of the first lady with dread. By that time she had put her deep disappointment in her marriage behind her and developed an independent life - now threatened by the public role she would be forced to play. A lifeline came to her in the form of a feisty campaign reporter for the Associated Press: Lorena Hickok. Over the next 30 years, until Eleanor's death, the two women carried on an extraordinary relationship.

The Six: The Lives of the Mitford Sisters

The eldest was a razor-sharp novelist of upper-class manners; the second was loved by John Betjeman; the third was a fascist who married Oswald Mosley; the fourth idolized Hitler and shot herself in the head when Britain declared war on Germany; the fifth was a member of the American Communist Party; the sixth became Duchess of Devonshire. They were the Mitford sisters....

Marilyn Monroe: The Biography

Fifty years after her death, Hollywood icon Marilyn Monroe still beguiles the world, her image enthralling millions. Many books have attempted to explain her allure and tell her story, but none has succeeded as well as this work by acclaimed biographer Donald Spoto. Spoto’s exhaustive research uncovers a conspiracy of silence, allowing him to present the facts, free from often-repeated myths and speculation. Granted access to more than thirty-five thousand pages of formerly sealed files containing letters, diaries, appointment books, and other intimate papers, he also interviewed nearly two hundred people who had never before spoken on record.

Tea at Five

Joins us for a cup of tea, won't you? Katharine Hepburn beckons us into her Connecticut home for a cozy chat and an intimate look at the legend, and the woman behind the legend. Based on the critically acclaimed New York production, the independent, intelligent, feisty Hepburn comes alive once again when Kate Mulgrew, of Star Trek: Voyager fame, slips deftly into the voice and being of the famous actress.

Enchantment: The Life of Audrey Hepburn

Her name is synonymous with elegance, style, and grace. Over the course of her extraordinary life and career, Audrey Hepburn captured hearts around the world and created a public image that stands as one of the most recognizable and beloved in recent memory. But despite her international fame and her tireless efforts on behalf of UNICEF, Audrey was also known for her intense privacy.

I Loved Her in the Movies: Memories of Hollywood's Legendary Actresses

In a career that has spanned more than 60 years, Robert Wagner has witnessed the twilight of the Golden Age of Hollywood and the rise of television, becoming a beloved star in both media. During that time he became acquainted, both professionally and socially, with the remarkable women who were the greatest screen personalities of their day. I Loved Her in the Movies is his intimate and revealing account of the charisma of these women on film, why they became stars, and more.

The Purple Diaries: Mary Astor and the Most Sensational Hollywood Scandal of the 1930s

1936 was a great year for the movie industry - the financial setbacks of the Great Depression were subsiding, so theater attendance was up. Americans everywhere were watching the stars, and few stars shined as brightly as one of America's most enduring screen favorites, Mary Astor. But Astor's personal story wasn't a happy one. Born poor and widowed at 24, Mary Astor had spent years looking for stability when she met and wed Dr. Franklyn Thorpe.

Jerry Goldwater says:"very well read and seemingly well researched but ."

Kick: The True Story of JFK's Sister and the Heir to Chatsworth

Encouraged to be "winners" from a young age, Rose and Joe Kennedy's children were the embodiment of ambitious, wholesome Americanism. Yet even within this ebullient group of overachievers, the fourth Kennedy child, the irrepressible Kathleen, stood out. Lively, charismatic, extremely clever, and blessed with graceful athleticism and a sunny disposition, the alluring socialite fondly known as Kick was a firecracker who effortlessly made friends and stole hearts.

This Time Together: Laughter and Reflection

Carol Burnett is one of the most beloved and revered actresses and performers in America. The Carol Burnett Show was seen each week by millions of adoring fans and won 25 Emmys in its remarkable 11-year run. Now, in This Time Together, Carol really lets her hair down and tells one funny or touching or memorable story after another.

The Curse of Beauty: The Scandalous & Tragic Life of Audrey Munson, America's First Supermodel

As America was stepping into the modern era, one great beauty became the artist's model of choice. Her perfect form became the emblem of the Gilded Age and appears on the greatest monuments of New York and the nation. Supermodel, actress, icon - her beauty paved the way for a life of glamour, passion, and ultimately tragedy. Her name is Audrey Munson.

Johnny Carson

From 1962 until 1992, Johnny Carson hosted The Tonight Show and permeated the American consciousness. In the ’70s and ’80s he was the country’s highest-paid entertainer and its most enigmatic. He was notoriously inscrutable, as mercurial (and sometimes cruel) off-camera as he was charming and hilarious onstage. During the apex of his reign, Carson’s longtime lawyer and best friend was Henry Bushkin, who now shows us Johnny Carson with a breathtaking clarity and depth that nobody else could.

Home: A Memoir of My Early Years

Since her first appearance on screen in Mary Poppins, Julie Andrews has played a series of memorable roles that have endeared her to generations. But she has never told the story of her life before fame. Until now.

Her Again: Becoming Meryl Streep

A portrait of a woman, an era, and a profession: the first thoroughly researched biography of Meryl Streep - the "Iron Lady" of acting, nominated for 19 Oscars and winner of three - that explores her beginnings as a young woman of the 1970s grappling with love, feminism, and her astonishing talent.

Andy and Don: The Making of a Friendship and a Classic American TV Show

Andy Griffith and Don Knotts met on Broadway in the 1950s. When Andy went to Hollywood to film a TV pilot about a small-town sheriff, Don called to ask if the sheriff could use a deputy. The comedic synergy between Sheriff Andy Taylor and Deputy Barney Fife ignited The Andy Griffith Show, elevating a folksy sitcom into a timeless study of human friendship, as potent off the screen as on.

The Kennedy Wives: Triumph and Tragedy in America’s Most Public Family

The Kennedy wives saw history up close - and made history in some cases. They knew wealth and privilege, but we are bonded to them by losses that are our losses, too. The Kennedy women - fierce, intelligent, and very private - belong to us. Not because of their glamour but because of their grief and misfortunes. The Kennedy Wives takes an unflinching look at the women who married into the Kennedy family and their distinct roles.

Rose Kennedy: The Life and Times of a Political Matriarch

In her compelling and intimate portrait, presidential historian Barbara A. Perry captures Rose Kennedy’s essential contributions to the incomparable Kennedy dynasty. This biography - the first to draw on an invaluable cache of Rose’s newly released diaries and letters - unearths the complexities behind the impeccable persona she showed the world. The woman who emerges is a fascinating character: savvy about her family’s reputation and resilient enough to persevere through the unfathomable tragedies that befell her.

In Such Good Company: Eleven Years of Laughter, Mayhem, and Fun in the Sandbox

Who but Carol Burnett herself has the timing, talent, and wit to pull back the curtain on the Emmy Award-winning show that made television history for 11 glorious seasons? In Such Good Company delves into little-known stories of the guests, sketches, and antics that made the show legendary as well as some favorite tales too good not to relive again. Carol lays it all out for us, from the show's original conception to its evolution into one of the most beloved primetime programs of its generation.

Dear Cary: My Life with Cary Grant

With unparalleled honesty, Dyan Cannon shares the heartwarming and heartbreaking story of her magical romance and stormy marriage to screen legend Cary Grant.He was the ultimate star, defining Hollywood glamour as well as cinematic achievement. She was a bright new actress, beautiful and funny, who would one day prove her talent by being the first woman to receive Academy Award nominations for her work on-screen and behind the camera. When he asked to meet Dyan, she assumed it was for an acting part, but he had a different role in mind for her....

Publisher's Summary

For seven decades Katharine Hepburn played a leading role in the popular culture of the 20th century, reigning as an admired actress, a beloved movie star, and a treasured icon of the modern American woman. She also remained one of the most private of all the public figures of her time.

In 1983, at the age of 75, her career cresting, the four-time Academy Award-winner opened the door to biographer A. Scott Berg, then 33, and began a special friendship, one that endured to the end of her illustrious life.

Here are the stories from those countless intimate conversations, and much more. In addition to recording heretofore untold biographical details of her entire phenomenal career and her famous relationships with such men as Spencer Tracy and Howard Hughes, Kate Remembered also tells the amusing, often emotional story of one of the most touching friendships in her final years. Scott Berg provides his own memories of Katharine Hepburn offstage: quiet dinners in her town house in New York City; winter swims (she swam, he watched) in the Long Island Sound at Fenwick, her home in Connecticut; weekend visits with family members and dear friends...even some unusual appearances by the likes of Michael Jackson and Warren Beatty. Finally, Kate Remembered discusses the legendary actress's moving farewell, during which her mighty personality surrendered at last to her failing body, all the while remaining true to her courageous character.

Kate Remembered is a book about love and friendship, family and career, Hollywood and Broadway, all punctuated by unforgettable lessons from an extraordinary life.

What the Critics Say

"Berg's immersion in the actor's world [is] engrossing, full of crisply-voiced takes on old Hollywood and intimate looks at [Hepburn's] everyday life....Berg is true to his subject and lets her voice come through in every quote." (Publishers Weekly)

Although it begins a little slowly, this is a fascinating look at Hepburn through the eyes of someone who knew her well in later life. It's not the usual celebrity bio, in that it focuses on Hepburn's strong friendships and her relationship with her family as well as the Hollywood years. The narrator does a good job of evoking the voices of Hepburn and others.

This is a wonderful story of a friendship with this remarkable woman. I've always admired her, and truly enjoyed A. Scott Berg's insights and stories. It is made even better by the masterful narration of Tony Goldwyn. When he quotes Katharine Hepburn, you don't have to know who the book is about to recognize the "voice".

I don't usually read nonfiction but this one caught my eye because I simply adore Kate Hepburn. A. Scott Berg did a wonderful job of bringing out the real Kate Hepburn for everyone to know. I don't think anyone can go wrong purchasing this book. It was over before I knew it and I found myself wanting more of the Hepburns and Mr. Berg to write it.

This boigraphy flows very well and narrator was engaging. The author depicted the real Kate to be just as strong as the characters she played onscreen. Author did not emphasize any significant event or traits that shaped Kate's personality and character from which one could learn and model themselves, however it was a pleasant listen that I think any fan of Kate would enjoy.

I thoroughly enjoyed this well written book. A. Scott Berg interjects the story of Katharine Hepburn's life and career with anecdotes of his own personal friendship with the legendary actress, giving the book a wonderful balance.

I enjoyed this book for the most part however the author pushed himself into the book too much. He tries too hard to let everyone know about his opinions and his friendship with K.H. more than he focuses on K.H. herself. The narrator did a great job, and makes the book more enjoyable than it would have been without him.

What made the experience of listening to Kate Remembered the most enjoyable?

I enjoyed the story and have always been fascinated by the life Kate lead. You do not see many stars who choose to lead simple, secluded lives.

What other book might you compare Kate Remembered to and why?

While not so much a comparison, I also enjoyed Lauren Bacall's "By Myself and Then Some". Each actress is mention in both of the books due to Bogey and the African Queen. There is also somewhat of a similar timeline within each of the books.

What does Tony Goldwyn bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I enjoyed Tony's performance. I found his voice rather soothing. He also did a wonderful impersonation of Kate's voice.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I admire the unselfishness Kate showed when Spencer died by allowing his family (wife and children) to mourn his loss privately.

Any additional comments?

While I have read several unkind reviews for this book, including the fact that the book is based on what the author said he was told and how it has been perceived as an invasion of Kate's privacy, I found it quite fascinating. I have always enjoyed Kate's movies and was intrigued by her relationship with Spencer. I was surprised and better educated by several things in the book.

I keep buying these kinds of books and am always dissappointed. I love Hepburn as an actress. But this author seemed to be trying to say "See how wonderful I am because I knew her." He wasn't wonderful just for that. And as much as he offered personal insights, it is not a thrlling biography. Watch her movies to be entertained by her, rather than reading this book.